Chlamydia pecorum detection in aborted and stillborn lambs from Western Australia

T. Clune; S. Besier; S. Hair; S. Hancock; A. Lockwood; A. Thompson; M. Jelocnik; C. Jacobson

doi:10.1186/s13567-021-00950-w

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Chlamydia pecorum detection in aborted and stillborn lambs from Western Australia

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Chlamydia pecorum detection in aborted and stillborn lambs from Western Australia

T. Clune, S. Besier, S. Hair, S. Hancock, A. Lockwood, A. Thompson, M. Jelocnik and C. Jacobson

Veterinary Research, Vol.52, Article 84

2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-021-00950-w

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Abstract

Lamb survival is an important welfare and productivity issue for sheep industries worldwide. Lower lamb survival has been reported for primiparous ewes, but the causes of this are not well studied. The aim of this study was to determine causes of perinatal deaths for lambs born to primiparous ewes in Western Australia, and identify if infectious diseases are implicated. Lamb mortality from birth to marking were determined for 11 primiparous ewe flocks on 10 farms in Western Australia. Lamb mortality from birth to marking averaged 14% for single-born and 26% for multiple-born lambs. Lamb necropsies (n = 298) identified starvation–mismosthering–exposure (34%), dystocia (24%) and stillbirth (15%) as the most common causes of perinatal lamb death. There was no evidence of exotic abortigenic pathogens in aborted and stillborn lambs (n = 35). Chlamydia pecorum was detected by qPCR in 15/35 aborted and stillborn lambs on 5/6 farms. Preliminary molecular characterisation of C. pecorum detected in samples from aborted and stillborn lambs (n = 8) using both Multilocus Sequence Typing and ompA genotyping indicated all strains were genetically identical to previously described pathogenic livestock strains, denoted ST23, and dissimilar to gastrointestinal strains. High frequency of detection of a pathogenic C. pecorum strains ST23 associated with ovine abortion and stillbirth on multiple farms located across a wide geographic area has not been previously reported. Chlamydia pecorum may contribute to reproductive wastage for primiparous sheep in Western Australia. Further investigation to understand C. pecorum epidemiology and impact on sheep reproduction is warranted.

Details

Title: Chlamydia pecorum detection in aborted and stillborn lambs from Western Australia
Authors/Creators: T. Clune (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
S. Besier (Author/Creator) - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
S. Hair (Author/Creator) - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
S. Hancock (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
A. Lockwood (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
A. Thompson (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
M. Jelocnik (Author/Creator) - University of the Sunshine Coast
C. Jacobson (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
Publication Details: Veterinary Research, Vol.52, Article 84
Publisher: BMC part of Springer Nature
Identifiers: 991005543943107891
Murdoch Affiliation: Centre for Animal Production and Health
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Citation topics: 1 Clinical & Life Sciences; 1.248 Sexually Transmitted Infections; 1.248.655 Chlamydia Infections
Web Of Science research areas: Veterinary Sciences
ESI research areas: Plant & Animal Science